Hooped Up

It’s just thirteen games into the 08-09 season and the Kings are surprisingly sitting at 5-8 with a banged up Kevin Martin in the western conference. Despite all that, Theus is on the hot seat…what’s up with that?

“Kings coach Reggie Theus, in light of recent comments made by team owner Joe Maloof that sparked talk about his job security, said there was one thing he wanted to get out there: He essentially agrees with Maloof. “Joe’s right in the sense that we have to get better,” said Theus, who is on the hot seat as the Kings hold the option for next season on his three-year deal worth $6 million. “My job is to find a way to get better. …(The) last six or seven games, if you just take the time to look at the defensive numbers, they will tell you this team has gotten a lot better defensively from the start of the season.” 

Sacramento Bee

The story of the year so far has been injuries, injuries, Marbury and more injuries.  Since this season began, the injury bug has hit like the plague and a lot of notable players are missing in action. According to the Sacramento Bee, Kevin Martin is the latest member to join that list and will be out of the Kings line up for 7 -10 days. 

Definitely not good news for the Sactown faithful.

The Sacramento Kings hate to bother you, but they would like you to ogle their dance team and pick one of  the costumes they should wear this season. You can ogle and vote here.

If there are no options from their night of madness, I guess I’ll go with number 3.

A segment dedicated to those that have been served 

With this kind of Matador defense played by Rudy Ferdandez,  on Kevin “Clubber Lang” Martin. One has got to wonder if the Ferdandez seen horns instead of a mohawk on Kevin Martin’s dome as he shook him off like dandruff going to the cup.  

Rudy Ferdandez, you have been served!

Well that was fast!  After retiring with the Kings just a week ago, Shareef Abdur-Rahim is back in the mix as an assistant coach with the Kings and it just feels right for a guy that deserved a lot more in his NBA career.

“Shareef Abdur-Rahim will be on the Sacramento sidelines, but as an assistant coach, the Kings announced Wednesday.

The 31-year-old, 12-year NBA veteran announced his retirement from professional basketball and the Kings last week. Abdur-Rahim was bothered by knee injuries in recent years. Following surgery he sat out the 2007-2008 season.

Abdur-Rahim played two years for Sacramento, after stints with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, and Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in his playing years. “

News 10

Beno Udrih, Francisco Garcia, and Jason Thompson were  at the Arden Fair Mall to unveil the new Kings uniforms and they look tight!

With Ron Artest in Houston, the Kings have drop more responsibility and now cash in the lap of Francisco Garcia after signing the sharp shooter to a 5-year extension. 

“I still have a lot of things to prove this year, I have to raise my level of play,” Garcia told ESPNdeportes.com. “It will be different, we don’t have Ron Artest anymore, and I am prepared because the team expects a lot from me.”

“I am preparing real hard to show everyone, and especially Sacramento, that they made a sound investment,” Garcia said. “I am confident that we are going to do a good job and that we are going to have a good season.”

ESPN

Without a doubt, one of the smoothest players in the league at his peak! Shareef Abdur-Rahim retired from the league after just 12 seasons due to his problem right knee.  To me Shareef Abdur-Rahim is much like Terry Malloy from the classic movie “On the Waterfront” played by Marlon Brando and the league was his Charley.  From the time he was drafted, it was like “a one-way ticket to Palooka-ville!” Rahim played for 4 teams, all with their best years behind them with the exception of the expansion Grizzlies, making the playoffs once. Yet he still holds the NBA record for most games played without a playoff appearance.   

On the right team “He coulda been a contender”.

“The 31-year-old played 12 NBA seasons for four teams, beginning his career in 1996 when the Vancouver Grizzlies made him the third overall draft pick from Cal. The 2002 All-Star averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his career, but reached the playoffs only once, with Sacramento in 2006.

“I came to grips with the fact that, health-wise, I won’t be able to get back to the condition and level that is needed to play in the NBA,” Abdur-Rahim said. “My right knee has become arthritic over the years.”

San Francisco Chronicle

If you are lucky enough to be a judge at one of these auditions, aren’t you the winner?